Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
अध्याय ५१: सूर्यादिप्रतिमालक्षणम्
Characteristics of the Images of Sūrya and Others
कृष्णो रक्तो मनाग्रक्तः पीतः पाण्डरकः सितः कपिलः पीतवर्णश् च शुकाभो धवलस् तथा
kṛṣṇo rakto manāgraktaḥ pītaḥ pāṇḍarakaḥ sitaḥ kapilaḥ pītavarṇaś ca śukābho dhavalas tathā
Noir; rouge; rougeâtre léger; jaune; pâle tirant sur le rouge (ou fauve blanchâtre); blanc; fauve (kapila); de teinte jaune; vert comme le perroquet; et aussi blanc éclatant — tels sont les types de couleurs ainsi nommés.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Color-typology for icon painting (lepa/varnaka), temple mural palettes, and deity/mandala differentiation; helps standardize hues for ritual correctness and visual hierarchy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varna-bheda (Named Color-Types) for Sacred Art","lookup_keywords":["varna-bheda","krishna rakta pita","kapila shukabha","dhavala sita","murti color types"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates standard color categories (black, red, yellow, white, tawny, parrot-green, etc.) used to classify and apply sacred hues in iconography and ritual diagrams."}
Concept: Rupa (form) is stabilized through varna (color); correct sensory markers support correct ritual cognition.
Application: When painting murtis/mandalas, choose hues from recognized varna-bhedas to maintain traditional readability and symbolic consistency.
Khanda Section: Vastu-Shastra / Murti-Lakshana (Iconography and sacred color-typology)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A painter’s palette laid out with ten labeled sacred color swatches—black, red, slight-red, yellow, pale-fawn/whitish, white, tawny, yellow-hued, parrot-green, bright white—beside an unfinished murti or mandala.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural workshop scene, artisan preparing natural pigments, ten color swatches displayed, temple wall panel in progress, bold outlines and flat fills, emphasis on traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate palette and pigment bowls with gold accents, swatches arranged symmetrically, partially gilded icon panel nearby, rich saturated colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout of color samples with neat arrangement, artisan mixing pigments, soft shading, clear differentiation of close whites and yellows","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature atelier, fine pigment shells and brushes, labeled swatches on paper, meticulous detailing of greens/whites, manuscript-illustration feel"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मनाक् + रक्तः → मनाग्रक्तः (क् + र् → ग्र्); पीतवर्णः (पीत + वर्णः); शुक + आभः → शुकाभः; धवलः + तथा → धवलस् तथा (विसर्गसन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 51 (murti-lakshana details where colors are applied to forms/parts); Agni Purana shilpa passages on lepa/varnaka and icon finishing (related sections)
FAQs
It provides a technical taxonomy of color-names (varṇa-bheda) used for specifying correct shades in ritual, temple work, and iconographic description.
By cataloging standardized terminology (here, precise color-terms), it functions like a reference manual—supporting applied disciplines such as Vastu, murti-śilpa, and ritual prescription.
Correctly choosing prescribed colors for sacred objects and rites is treated as part of ritual accuracy (yathā-vidhi), supporting purity, auspiciousness, and the intended religious merit of worship.